Page 8 of Charming Her Monsters

Jade’s face blushes with the matchmaking line, and then she almost launches from the table when she sees Calder on the floor, still unconscious. “Oh, my fuck! Calder?”

“Settle.” Amira says calmly and holds Jade’s shoulders to the table. “You can’t do anything for him at the moment. It’s more important that I inspect you for any lingering damage.”

“But—” Jade points to Calder on the ground, worry and pain clear in her face. “He’s hurt.”

“We know, but you are too,” Arran says, his voice wavering with emotion. “Please, just let Amira look you over so we can feel better.”

“Okay.” Jade weakly lifts her hand up to touch Arran’s cheek. Her arm can barely make the journey, so Arran helps her along by clasping her hand in his and kissing her palm.

“Jade, how does your head feel?” Amira gently touches places over her scalp, focusing on the back of her head.

“Uh, I feel a bit groggy.”

“I’m going to check under your shirt and pants now to see if there is any other damage we missed. Okay?”

Jade’s gaze catches on my widening eyes.

I quickly turn away to give her privacy, and Raithe follows my lead. We exchange a look and both distract ourselves by checking on Calder.

After assessing Calder’s condition, Raithe says, “I think he’s going to recover without needing a rebirth.”

It’s good news, because depending on the nature of the death, it can be a long process. Usually, Calder forgets things about his last life. Sometimes, he mostly remembers the bad. He gets some of his original self back, but not all. He’s a bit different after each incarnation.

“Where did you getthis?” Amira’s tone holds fear and a touch of anger.

My spine goes rigid, my instincts wanting to fight. To protect.

I turn to see Amira pointing to the necklace around Jade’s neck. Fortunately, Jade’s breasts are still covered by her half unbuttoned shirt, so I don’t make her uncomfortable.

Why does Amira seem so upset by a necklace?

3

HEIRLOOM

JADE

This witch, Amira, pokes and prods my head for residual damage.

I don’t know how long I’ve been unconscious, but it appears the guys somehow found Calder and me in the alleyway not long after Rob attacked us.

How did Rob find me? And for that matter, how did Calder know I was in that alley? Why did he save me from Rob’s clutches?

I thought all four guys had left me alone to help the community center, after it had been attacked with some sort of explosion. Was it all a lie?

Calder appeared to be protecting me… or protecting Osen inside me.

The last thing I remember is Osen’s vision of his death. We saw someone who looked like me or perhaps my grandmother, although I thought she’d been dead for nearly thirty years. But the woman apparently killed Osen. Though the more I grasp at the image, the more wrong it feels.Fake.

I don’t understand how it could be possible for my grandmother to be the one to kill Osen.

Perhaps someone used a glamour to disguise their true face?

I’m also freaked out that Rob grabbed me with shadows, much like Osen’s incubus ability.

I believe Calder and I were both knocked unconscious, when Rob tossed us aside. Why did he give up so quickly? Was his magic fading?

When I dip into my mind, I don’t feel Osen anymore. I’m worried, but he’s slipped into the background before. Maybe that’s what’s happening now. I hope it’s not because Rob snuffed out Osen’s soul.

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